Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Chevron to proceed with development of Alder Field in Central North SeaChevron Corporation (CVX) announced that its U.K. subsidiary, Chevron North Sea Limited, has reached a final investment decision and received approval from the U.K. government to proceed with the development of the Alder Field in the Central North Sea. The project has a planned design capacity of 110 million cubic feet of natural gas and 14,000 barrels of condensate per day. First production is expected in 2016. The field will be developed via a single subsea well tied back to the existing Britannia Platform, a distance of 17 miles. Chevron North Sea Limited operates the project and has a 73.684% interest, with co-venturer ConocoPhillips (COP), with a 26.316% interest.

Saudi Arabia aims to become second-largest refined oil exporter, WSJ saysSaudi Arabia's oil minister Ali al-Naimi said Wednesday it plans to become the world's second-largest refined oil product exporter by 2017, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing statements given at a conference. Two new refineries in Saudi Arabia will add 800,000 BPD this year, and a planned 2017 refinery in Jazan will bring the kingdom's total capacity to over 3M BPD. Publicly traded companies in the space include BP (BP), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Total (TOT). Reference Link

USW to expand ULP oil strikeThe United Steelworkers, USW, announced that it will expand its unfair labor practice strike, ULP, by launching a work stoppage tonight at midnight at the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. This refinery, a 50-50 joint venture between Shell Oil Company and Saudi Refining, produces more than 600,000 barrels per day. In addition, 24 hour strike notices were delivered at Motiva’s two Louisiana refineries in Convent and Norco as well as at the Shell Chemical plant in Norco. Capacity at these facilities is 235,000 and 238,000. These refineries are also jointly operated by Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Refining, Inc. of Saudi Arabia. “The industry’s refusal to meaningfully address safety issues through good faith bargaining gave us no other option but to expand our work stoppage,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. Publicly traded companies in the space include BP (BP), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Total (TOT). Reference Link